Veterans Connect: Resources for Serving Veterans

This project took place from fiscal year 2012 to 2022. This page includes resources for California library staff working to improve services to veterans in communities across the state. Please note, the page may not include the most current information available.

According to the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) just under 1.6 million former service members live in California — the largest veteran population of any state. Libraries help veterans connect to their benefits through referrals and effective community partnerships, deliver programming for veterans and their families, and design services to meet the needs of this diverse group of community members.

The purpose of this page is to share resources among California library staff working to improve services to veterans in communities across the state.

Training for Volunteers, VA Work-Study and Staff: Part 1

Training for Volunteers, VA Work-Study and Staff: Part 2

CalVet Information for Libraries

​The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) works to serve California veterans and their families and ensure that veterans of every era and their families get the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve. CalVet strives to serve veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to help them achieve their highest quality of life. CalVet and the California State Library have worked together since 2012 in order to reach more veterans and connect them and their families with benefits.

Libraries should connect to CalVet through their Local Interagency Network Coordinator (LINC) as a first point of contact for veterans and their families. Find a CalVet LINC.

CalVet Veteran Services: 1-800-952-5626

More resources from CalVet

California Veterans Resources Book

The California Veterans Resource Book is the single most important book to have in the library for veterans. It is available online or by the case (free!) to distribute at the library and outreach events.

Community Partners and Statewide Connections

County Veteran Service Offices (CVSO)

CVSOs are the most recommended contact point for veterans. Find a local CVSO.

California Community College Veterans Centers

More than 90 of California’s 116 community colleges have a veterans resource center. In addition, those who have served have access to priority registration, tutoring, food pantries, and more. At the state level, a Veterans Services Advisory Committee works with colleges in opening the lines of communication to identify student veteran needs and exchange innovative ideas and share strategies for programs that are working.

Visit the nearest Community College Veteran Center to speak about opportunities to collaborate. Community Colleges are the perfect place to find VA Work-Study veterans to work at the library. Learn more about California Community Colleges Veterans Centers.

How and Why Your Library Should Hire a VA Work-Study Student

A VA Work Study student can work about 20 hours a week providing service to veterans. The student will serve as a point of contact to ensure that Veterans and Veteran families of every era know how to get connected to the state and federal benefits and services they have earned through military service. Applicants can find more information on how the Work-Study program can benefit them.

If possible, work with your library’s Volunteer Coordinator to develop job descriptions, recruitment strategies, and interview questions. VA Work Study candidates can often be found by connecting with the Veteran Resource Center at your closest college campus.

California State Parks Pass Program for Veterans

Some veterans are already eligible for free passes to the California State Parks through the Distinguished Veterans Pass program, but for those who don’t qualify, promote the new California State Library Parks Pass program.

National Resources for Serving Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of Veterans Affairs Resources for Serving Veterans Experiencing Homelessness

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Veterans: A major initiative to end homelessness among veterans. See links and action steps below. Consider adding some of these links to your Veterans page or utilizing the assets and toolkit.

Resources for Libraries Serving Veterans

Two people, working together with laptops.
San Francisco Public Library’s The Bridge at Main, a literacy and learning center, that offers veterans resources.
  • To recruit volunteers at the library, work with your library’s volunteer coordinator to develop a volunteer agreement, interview questions, and position descriptions.
  • VA Work-Study: The Work-Study Allowance Program offers an additional non-taxable allowance to students in return for performing VA-related activities. It serves as a supplemental VA education benefit and often provides the additional funding that allows a student to pursue and accomplish educational goals. The students are a valuable resource to serve veterans at the library.
  • Libraries & Veterans National Forum Toolkit: To help library staff just getting started working with veterans, as well as those looking for new ideas to bring to their libraries, an online toolkit was created. It contains lesson plans, program outlines, collection development policies, best practice documents, and more.
  • ALA members are encouraged to join the ALA Veterans Caucus
  • LeMire, S., & Mulvihill, K. J (2017). Serving Those Who Served: Librarian’s Guide to Working with Veteran and Military Communities. ABC-CLIO.
  • National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics: Resource from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Programming for Veterans

Public programs are a valuable way to reach veterans, veteran family members, and the general public. Currently .4 percent of the American population is active military personnel. Slightly over 7% of the US population served in the past and are now veterans. Their lives and experiences are often unknown to many members of the public, and their service is sometimes unacknowledged or insensitively recognized. Public programs honor the service of veterans and educate non-veterans.

Before planning programs, understand and recognize the unique culture of veterans. CalVet’s Cultural Competency module states, “There are many myths and stereotypes about veterans. They make up a small percentage of our overall population and unless an individual has served or a close family member has served, most civilians do not understand military culture. A culturally informed approach will benefit the veteran and significantly improve the quality of services you provide.”

Resources from the Libraries & Veterans National Forum Toolkit

The Libraries & Veterans National Forum Toolkit provides resources created by experts in veteran services, to assist with program development for veterans at the library. Below, are a few recommended programming resources from the extensive toolkit:

  • Homeless and Veterans Stand Down: Many communities host Stand Downs for veterans and the library has many services to offer to veterans and their families. Contact the organizer ahead of time to find out the guidelines and consider attending a Stand Down before hosting a table at a subsequent event.
  • Veterans Empathy Oral History Program: Collecting oral histories is a way to share the stories of those who served. The oral history itself is a powerful tool for the veteran to remember and share their experiences. The oral history can be shared with family, friends, and the general public, and archived with the help of the library.
  • Art Therapy for Veterans and their Families: Programs such as these create pride for veterans and family members, can help reduce stress, and manage anxiety. Art therapy programs and art shows or displays provide an opportunity to educate veterans, family members, and the public about veteran issues and resources for veterans in the community.
  • Soldier Stories: Writing Workshops for Active Duty, Veterans, and Military Affiliates: Writing workshops in public libraries provide an opportunity for veterans to write their own narrative, or to explore poetry, fiction and non-fiction. If possible, work with a writing group or an instructor from a local college.
  • Community-Wide Read and Programming: Numerous public libraries have hosted community reads with popular titles including The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien and What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl Marlantes. The library could also host a Veterans Awareness Book Club.

More Programming Ideas

  • Event-in-a-Box: Ending Veteran Homelessness, One Event at a Time: The VA’s comprehensive toolkit for community groups and individuals to raise awareness about or showcase best practices in ending and preventing homelessness among Veterans.
  • Reach out to the local County Veteran Service Office and invite the local officer to hold a Q&A session about veteran benefits and resources in the library.
  • Another straightforward way to connect with veterans is to offer the library’s meeting room to local community veteran service organizations as a step to building meaningful connections.

Project History

Veterans Connect @ the Library was an LSTA funded initiative that spanned a period of ten years. Many of the resources and links on this page were created or gathered as result of the success of the Veterans Connect @ the Library project. Some California public libraries continue to host physical Veterans Resource Centers in their libraries, with others serving veterans through community hubs, resource centers, coordinated care projects, and community partnerships. Libraries may continue using the Veterans Connect @ the Library theme, logo, and materials in their promotions.